I've been reading the forum for a while now and after reading about the difficulties with CableCards, I approached installing my TiVo with trepidation...

In anticipation of my TiVo arriving today, I went to my local Comcast office on Monday to pick up a CableCard. When I asked for it, the woman at the office knew exactly what I wanted, and handed over a brand-new M-card. She also told me that in this market (Seattle) they only offer M-cards, and not S-cards.

Tonight I went through the guided setup, then called Comcast to pair and activate the card. The CSR asked for the serial number/host/data and put me on hold. A few minutes later, she came back and told me that I was all set.

I crossed my fingers and started testing channels while still on the line with her. Everything is working! All my channels, including my premium channels are coming through just fine! Total time on the phone: about 15 minutes.

Sometimes, it works just like it's supposed to. I do consider myself lucky!

I ran the guided setup, then did my CableCARD install. The Comcast person I talked to seemed to think everything went fine on her end, but I couldn't tell any difference on mine. I tried to just change to a new channel, but the TiVo kept insisting that I re-run the guided setup. Fine by me, so I try to do that, and it gives me a "This option is temporarily unavailable because teh TiVo HD DVR is in the process of connecting to the TiVo service. When the connection completes, you'll be able to access this option."

Well, I don't even know what "connecting to the TiVo service" means, or how long it's going to take. It's not particularly "temporarily" because it's been like this for 10+ minutes now. Is it stuck like this forever? Am I actually going to get out of it? Why can't I cancel this "connecting" business since I'm going to do the initial setup again anyways?

Check to see what software version your Tivo currently has - it's listed under 'system information'. As I understand it, It needs to be version 11 or higher.

Mine is running version 11 and the Tivo support told me I was getting the the 161-1 error because the cable card is bad. Comcast is coming out (again) tomorrow to (hopefully) bring me a new card.

I am in ATL and was told that they do not have multi-channel cards. The tech arrived with two cards he he said were multi-channel, but they were instead single-channel cards. We'll see what they bring tomorrow

Quote:

Originally Posted by laboramus

Just got my TivoHD, and picked up CableCard from Comcast, and of course it did not work. Gives 161-1 error. Neiher comcast people nor Tivo support had any idea about what 161-1 is, even though Tivo support page says "This hotline is answered by agents who are specially trained in troubleshooting CableCARD issues. If the information in this article does not solve your issue, please give them a call." Looks like the training did not include actually getting to know one of the most frequent - apparently - error codes. I redid the guided setup, I called Comcast, I called Tivo 3 times, nothing helped and nobody really sounded as they even knew what I was talking about at all.
Finally I got the advice of getting a new card - which I will, but what if it would do the same? It looks really frustrating to have to go to Comcast each day for a new card and try them all out for a chance to get a working one. Comcast BTW told me they are giving me M-Card, but gave me S-Card. It didn't work anyway but I wonder if there's any way to know next time - looks like local reps don't know too much about it too.
I was really excited to get TivoHD, but now I'm thinking maybe I have to go back to my Series2 and wait until Tivo and cable companies figure it out - it looks like you have to be really lucky to just get this thing to work.

Check to see what software version your Tivo currently has - it's listed under 'system information'. As I understand it, It needs to be version 11 or higher.

Mine is running version 11 and the Tivo support told me I was getting the the 161-1 error because the cable card is bad. Comcast is coming out (again) tomorrow to (hopefully) bring me a new card.

I am in ATL and was told that they do not have multi-channel cards. The tech arrived with two cards he he said were multi-channel, but they were instead single-channel cards. We'll see what they bring tomorrow

See my posts above, I am in ATL and just had my multistream card installed last Sat. You're right, the phone reps insist you need two cards for your tivo (I think they are trained on Series 3 tivos needed two cards but if, like me, you have a tivo hd then you can use just the one multistream card). I just told them to please make a note that the installer bring multistream cards and that I'd rather postpone my appt if they are out of them at the moment (didn't want to pay extra $2 month for 2nd card). Luckily, the installer showed up with a mcard and installed with very little trouble. Be aware, I did have to call a couple hours later and request an initialization hit as I was not getting all my channels. This took seconds and been working great all week. I did tell them the installer told me to ask for this initialization if all channels did not show up (he didnt, I learned that from these posts but I get the feeling they dont like you to know more than they do)

My cablecard installation was a couple of years ago and it went fine and is still working quite well.

My issue is the cost of renting them from Comcast. I think they charge an awful lot of money for this rental. Oh it doesn't seem like much for one month, but month after month it is adding up to quite a tidy sum. If I could purchase the cablecards but chose to rent them I could see paying what I do.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll keep an eye out, although everything is still fine this morning.

Removal and reinsertion multiple times on the TV over the past couple years has never changed the pairing. As a matter of fact, when the channels have disappeared in the past with the card was in the TV, pulling and reinserting is what Comcast support recommended.

There are two channnels in my lineup that are not coming through though - Mojo is just blank - perhaps a programming problem. And GolfHD - the screen comes up to call Comcast about programming. I have seen that on some premium channels in the past.

I'll continue to keep an eye on it. The pairing to a slot thing always seemed a bit odd to me. Do M-Cards auto-pair to the slot? Obviously Comcast cannot read the card remotely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by drhankz

Give it another 24 hours.

I don't know at what interval Comcast sends out KEYING info.

But the Next time they send out Keying info - your card with
STOP working - I predict - unless TiVo is doing something
Strange.

In my Non-TiVo DVR's - Even a removal and insertion of a
CableCard into the exact same BOX changes the PAIRING info.

I just had Comcast in Alexandria VA install a multistream CC last night. It took him ten minutes and went well.

I asked the cable guy if his noticed an increases in people getting rid of the Comcast DVR and getting the CCs for Tivo. He said he's noticed a huge increase in the number of cards he's been installing in the last six months.

Thought I would share my unfortunate experience and end result with Series 3 & Comcast multistream cable card install. We purchased a new HD TV and thought it was time to upgrade to Tivo HD.
Similar to the many posts here, I attempted a self install. I went through 3 cable cards on my own phoning tech support numerous times. Each time I was told by Ccast "the card was paired on our end". Meanwhile several calls to Tivo tech support insisted the card was not paired and I continue to receive what my kids angrily call the "spinning peppermint wheel of death" as the dvr painfully attempts to acquire a cable signal.

After 8 days of nightly phone calls, I finally had a Ccast tech out last night. He went through 2 more cards before phoning dispatch. He was promptly told by "dispatch" that the known software issue from Dec '08 (which allows Comcast to send and receive signals to the card) is still not resolved. No cards can be paired due to this. This problem apparently spans San Fran to Monterey in CA. It is not the card, it is not Tivo, it is the lack of organization within Comcast to get their software up to speed.

When I asked the tech what my options were, I was told the following:
1.-I could go back to the old Series 2 Tivo set up and receiver box that I had before
or
2.-Purchase the Comcast HD DVR - their DVR has the hardware installed so there is no card issue. Unfortunately, they are out of stock, no eta
or
3.-Wait for Ccast to resolve the issue. I would be put on a "list" and the supervisor would phone me when the issue was resolved and set up a time for install

We have not decided what option we will go with yet. It really burns me up when I think of the wasted time, energy and expenses caused by Comcasts failure to communicate with the public and their own support people!

It's actually kinda nice to have a quiet house with no tv in the background.
hmmmmm, could this be option 4?

Went back to Comcast here in Montgomery County and swapped M-Cards. Went through the hole process and had the same result. I am only able to receive my local HD channels... that's it.

There is one change. With the first M-Card, the pairing screen flashed an Authorization Failure 1200 error message... whereas now, the pairing screen is prompting me to contact my provider to start cable service. I have been assured by CC Tech that the pairing signal was in fact sent out but I still only get those five local HD channels.

There hasn't been anything like that displayed. When I bring up the cableCARD pairing screen it gives me the pertinent data information (SN, MAC, Data, Host ID, etc.) but at the top it says, "Contact your cable provider to begin service".

I followed those instructions and called and had the information sent... there was no change. Are you saying that the problem could have rectified itself while I was asleep and have been at work?

There hasn't been anything like that displayed. When I bring up the cableCARD pairing screen it gives me the pertinent data information (SN, MAC, Data, Host ID, etc.) but at the top it says, "Contact your cable provider to begin service".

I followed those instructions and called and had the information sent... there was no change. Are you saying that the problem could have rectified itself while I was asleep and have been at work?

I was just asking if your TiVo box knows you are a TiVo Subscriber
so that it can update the TiVo software.